Merthyr Tydfil vs Gresley Rovers
Manager Jon Newsome made three changes for the trip to second-placed Merthyr.
The injured Craig Hopkins was replaced by Mark Peters and defender Stuart Evans and Neil Kitching preferred to James Parkinson and Gary Smith.
It was a fine display by Martyrs keeper Neil Thomas that was the difference between Gresley travelling home with one point rather than a fully deserved three on what ended up as a very wet afternoon and in difficult conditions.
He made a number of notable saves that denied Gresley, who had not beaten a side out of the top five, a victory.
Chris Gray played a superb ball into the area but Bourne could only put his header over and two minutes later Gray was involved again.
The midfielder collected the ball some 35 yards out and raced at the Merthyr defence before supplying a cross that Thomas could only partially punch clear. Unfortunately no Gresley player was available to capitalize and the ball was scrambled clear.
On 25 minutes Gresley keeper James Lindley was called into action when he easily dealt with Justin Pritchard's 15-yard shot.
But 10minutes later Lindley was called on again to make two terrific saves. The first was a save from Andy Mainwaring and then from Paul Keddle who was following up the rebound. Keddle then had his second attempt blocked by Ian Bluck.
The home side went ahead almost straight from the re-start. On 47 minutes Danny Carter put a fine pass through to Pritchard who was in acres of space and he easily beat Lindley with a shot low into the bottom corner.
In previous games against the top teams Gresley have collapsed after going a goal behind but not this time. They went up a gear and for most of second half they put their hosts under constant pressure.
They should have been on even terms on 50 minutes. Gray hit a ferocious shot which Thomas could not hold but Kitching could only hit the rebound straight back to a relieved home keeper.
On form Thomas again saved his side on 73 minutes when he did very well to block Peters' shot and then made an even better save when Gary Smith looked certain to score for the visitors.
The deserved equaliser came on 77 minutes and Gresley man-of -the-match was involved again.
Bourne put a ball through to Gray who dummied the keeper but even though he only half hit his shot the ball somehow found its way past both Adrian Needs and Kris Whitcome standing on the goal line.
It was no more than Gresley deserved. Indeed, they should have taken all three points from the title hopers when, in injury time, Peters put his shot only inches wide of the post.
The manager's view
"It was good to come away with some reward after the previous week's disappointing display against Stourport.
"We switched off at half-time and paid the penalty when Merthyr took the lead but Stuart Evans' return made a massive difference to us.
"Chris Gray had his best game of the season. He got at them and never allowed them to settle in. It was a good all round performance."
Merthyr Tydfil (0) 1
Gresley Rovers (0) 1
Scorers: Pritchard 47 (Merthyr Tydfil), Gray 77 (Gresley Rovers).
Merthyr Tydfil: Thomas, Edwards, Keddle, Needs, Whitcome, K Evans (Elliott 68), Carter, E Evans, Mainwaring (Regan 45), Pritchard (Bale 80), Dorrian.
Gresley Rovers: Lindley, Wardle, G White, Bluck, S Evans, Cheetham, Barrett, Peters, Kitching (Smith 57), Bourne (Crawford 87), Gray. Subs not used: Parkinson, Shiels (gk).
Rovers Star Man: Chris Gray - best game this season.
Referee: S Robbins (Bristol).
Attendance: 502
